The Green Archer (1961 film)

The Green Archer
German poster
Der grüne Bogenschütze
Directed by	Jürgen Roland
Produced by	Horst Wendlandt
Written by	Wolfgang Schnitzler () Wolfgang Menge based on a novel by Edgar Wallace
Starring	Gert Fröbe
Music by	Heinz Funk ()
Cinematography	Heinz Hölscher ()
Edited by	Herbert Taschner ()
Production company	Rialto Film
Distributed by	Constantin Film
Running time	93 minutes
Country	West Germany
Language	German

The Green Archer (German: Der grüne Bogenschütze) is a 1961 West German black and white crime film directed by Jürgen Roland and starring Gert Fröbe, Klausjürgen Wussow, Karin Dor and Eddi Arent. It is based on the 1923 novel The Green Archer by Edgar Wallace.

During a guided tour of Garre Castle, a man is killed by an arrow after sneaking away from the rest of the group. Shortly thereafter, Mr Howett and his adopted daughter, Valerie, move into Lady's Manor, next door to the castle. Valerie is looking for her mother she has not seen in 20 years. John Wood, a friend of Valerie's brother John Bellamy, who was killed in the war, is also there.

Abel Bellamy, Valerie’s uncle, an American with a murky past in Chicago, and owner of Garre Castle returns to London. At the airport he is questioned by journalists on the death in his home, and reacts aggressively. Spike Holland, a journalist, is asked by a man named Creager to come and see him to learn something of interest. Creager calls Scotland Yard, offering them information on Bellamy but he is shot by the Green Archer. When Holland arrives at Creager's house, Creager is dead. The police investigation turns up that Bellamy has been paying 40 pounds per month to Creager. Bellamy claims it was because Creager saved his life once.

At night, the Green Archer appears in Bellamy's bedroom but Bellamy wakes up and drives him off with his pistol, wounding him in the process. A blood covered handkerchief with the initials "V.H." is found. It turns out that Bellamy keeps Valerie's mother Elaine imprisoned in the basement of his castle. She thinks both her son and daughter are dead. Valerie Howett learns from Bellamy's embezzling secretary Julius Savini, whom she has been paying for information, that Bellamy has contacted one Coldharbour Smith. He lived near her mother when she disappeared and now runs the Shanghai Bar. Valerie visits the bar and a confrontation ensues that is only ended by the arrival of Holland. Valerie next tries to sneak into Garre Castle at night. When she is threatened by Bellamy's dogs, one of them is shot and killed by the Green Archer.

Meanwhile, Inspector Featherstone of Scotland Yard has infiltrated the Bellamy household by hiring on as a member of the staff. His suspicions are aroused and a search of the castle is initiated. Nothing incriminating is found, however.